[This] is by far the most wise and thought provoking book on menopause that I have ever read. It is must reading for every woman who dares to meet the challenges of menopause fully and consciously." Christiane Northrup, M.D. The first holistic perspective on menopause, this book explores how the "change of life" can empower women. Drawing from years of research and clinical work, McCain sees more in menopause than the sum of its psychological and emotional parts: the change is a rite of passage, a prime opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth. McCain explains how Western metaphors for growth are linear, and, by using Eastern concepts of circularity and reflecting upon the real experience of women, she paints a truly alternative picture.